ULEZ (1)

Keith Prince: Why are there no current accredited Euro 6 retrofit systems available for Heavy Goods Vehicles, Light Goods, Mini buses, diesel vehicles etc in the ULEZ?

The Mayor: There are currently nine approved companies developing retrofit systems. There is a good range of accredited systems for urban buses and there are systems approved for two models of coach and two models of refuse collection vehicle. There is also an approved re-power and LPG conversion for taxis. Transport for London (TfL) is aware that one of the retrofit manufacturers is developing a system for light commercial vehicles, applicable to the van and minibus market. There are also other approvals pending.
All accredited systems for the ULEZ are on the national Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) website, which ensures a common standard exists across the UK: https://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/transport/clean-vehicle-retrofit-accreditation-scheme-cvras.
The decision to develop a retrofit system is a commercial decision. Whilst manufacturers have received enquiries for a range of vehicle types, they also need to ensure sufficient sales volumes to justify the development costs before proceeding with development.
Although local authorities in other parts of the country can bid for funding from the national Clean Air Fund to help businesses purchase retrofit systems and increase sales volumes, London has been exempted from this fund, despite helping to pay for it. I continue to make the case to government for London’s businesses to get the support they deserve.

Bus Driver Facility Improvements

Caroline Pidgeon: In your response to Question 2019/2082, you suggested that 21 routes of the “42 priority routes” remain without guaranteed toilet facilities for bus drivers. Which routes are these? Are you satisfied that bus drivers on these routes meet the Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations 1992 (Regulation 20, Sanitary conveniences)?

The Mayor: There are 22 priority routes with a toilet and 20 for which plans are in place to provide them. Some of the 20 have access to toilets for some of the working day. Completing these prioritised facilities will ensure bus drivers have access for all hours of operation.
Transport for London (TfL) continues to work closely with the union Unite and bus operating companies to agree and adapt plans to ensure facilities are provided in the most needed locations. This is because the bus network is not static. Routes often change to reflect new travel patterns and third-party facilities can be withdrawn.
The regulations you mention chiefly relate to workplaces controlled by employers which, in the case of bus operators, would be their garages, where toilets are routinely provided. Bus operators, TfL and Unite are trying to ensure that, so far as reasonably practicable, toilets are provided elsewhere, mostly in areas outside their control and through third-parties, which is a far more challenging task. TfL is also trying to ensure that subsequent planned changes to bus routes factor in toilets.
Current list of priority routes with plans in place for toilets: 291, 88, R2, 124, 434, 234, 288, H20, R7, W8, 42, 292, 321, 427, 455, K3, 121, 281, 468, and 414